dance critique essay brainly

24/7 writing help on your phone

To install StudyMoose App tap and then “Add to Home Screen”

Exploring Artistic Narratives: A Dance Concert Analysis

Save to my list

Remove from my list

The Opening Act: Friendships

The Passage of Time: The Time Between

An artistic exploration of mental struggles: unseen injuries, artistic diversity: messages in movement, reflections on dance styles and personal preferences, exploring dance as a form of narrative expression, challenges in interpreting dance: a call for dance appreciation, conclusion: a multifaceted exploration of artistic expression.

Exploring Artistic Narratives: A Dance Concert Analysis. (2016, May 31). Retrieved from https://studymoose.com/dance-critique-essay

"Exploring Artistic Narratives: A Dance Concert Analysis." StudyMoose , 31 May 2016, https://studymoose.com/dance-critique-essay

StudyMoose. (2016). Exploring Artistic Narratives: A Dance Concert Analysis . [Online]. Available at: https://studymoose.com/dance-critique-essay [Accessed: 13 Jun. 2024]

"Exploring Artistic Narratives: A Dance Concert Analysis." StudyMoose, May 31, 2016. Accessed June 13, 2024. https://studymoose.com/dance-critique-essay

"Exploring Artistic Narratives: A Dance Concert Analysis," StudyMoose , 31-May-2016. [Online]. Available: https://studymoose.com/dance-critique-essay. [Accessed: 13-Jun-2024]

StudyMoose. (2016). Exploring Artistic Narratives: A Dance Concert Analysis . [Online]. Available at: https://studymoose.com/dance-critique-essay [Accessed: 13-Jun-2024]

• Concert Report: Jazz Concert at FHSU Pages: 3 (774 words)
• Dance Concert Critique Guidelines Pages: 2 (571 words)
• Moving Messages of Falling Into Pieces Dance Concert Pages: 5 (1218 words)
• Twistin’ on the Dance Floor: An Analysis of the 1960s Twist Dance Craze Pages: 3 (669 words)
• South African Dance Verses Irish Dance Pages: 6 (1770 words)
• Judson Dance Theater: Postmodern Dance Pioneers Pages: 6 (1768 words)
• Exploring Captivity Narratives: Mary Rowlandson and Olaudah Equiano Pages: 5 (1260 words)
• Orwellian Reflections: Exploring the Personal Narratives of George Orwell Pages: 6 (1520 words)
• Harmonizing Life: Exploring Personal Narratives Through Music Technology Pages: 5 (1331 words)
• Tech Tales: Exploring Personal Narratives in the Digital Age Pages: 4 (1092 words)

👋 Hi! I’m your smart assistant Amy!

Don’t know where to start? Type your requirements and I’ll connect you to an academic expert within 3 minutes.

• Skip to primary navigation
• Skip to main content
• Skip to primary sidebar

Dance Advantage

Solutions For All Stages Of Your Dance Life

How to Write an Observation Paper or Critique

May 4, 2009 by Nichelle Suzanne (owner/editor)

Want a better grade on your paper? This guide will help you organize your thoughts regarding an observed performance (specifically a dance performance)… it may prove helpful to you in preparing and writing your reaction to or critique of anything. In fact, I’ve even used bold print on statements of universal importance.

Those of you studying dance academically at the college or high school level have probably been  (or will at some time be) asked to express in writing your reaction to a dance performance. These essays go by many names (observations, critiques, reactions), however, the format is generally the same – two pages of double spaced… what?

• What am I supposed to write about?
• How do I describe movement?
• What should I be looking for when I watch dance?
• How should I format the paper?
• What is expected of me?

Writing Your Reactions to a Performance

Preparation and Recording

• Develop some background knowledge. Read articles, class material, and descriptions of the dance company, artist, and/or dances you will be seeing. This little bit of additional knowledge can go a long way in helping you watch and write about the performance.
• Arrive early to the performance and read through any program notes and biographies.
• Keep a writing utensil handy to record notes in the program or in a pad of paper .
• Record keywords and phrases regarding what you see, feel, hear, and experience.
• Do not judge your own perceptions .
• Are certain things repeated? Do the dancers move in lines or formations?
• Is there distance between individuals or groups of dancers? Does the head follow the elbow in a turn or does the dancer focus outward, beyond himself?
• Does the music make you tense or agitated? Do the movements remind you of popcorn one moment and falling leaves the next?
• How does the performance affect you and/or others in the audience?

Structuring Your Paper

• Are there themes or patterns in your responses?
• Were your reactions to certain works stronger than others?
• What stands out as you look at your notes?
• Determine what you will detail in your central paragraphs. Three or four paragraphs is usually appropriate. You may want to go ahead and draft these paragraphs, covering one or two dance pieces in detail or writing in depth about aspects of the performance (themes or motifs, costumes, lighting, etc.), for example. Each paragraph should have a clear focus and begins with a thought that sets up the supportive sentences that follow.
• Jot down a few thoughts or keywords that summarize this collection of paragraphs. This is helpful in creating your introductory and concluding paragraphs. Have you focused a lot on the color of things, be it in lighting, costume, or even mood of the pieces, for example? Again consider patterns as you seek to organize your thoughts.

Writing Your Paper

Your introduction.

Set the Scene — Include the name of the artist or company in your opening lines. Other possibilities include where and when and even under what conditions you are viewing the performance.

Your introduction should also set up the central paragraphs (the meat of your paper) with a thesis statement. A strong introduction will summarize in one or two sentences what is similar or related about the paragraphs ahead while giving the reader a sense of your prevailing reaction to the work. (For more on forming thesis statements see this article at the George Mason University website )

Your Observations

Use specific and descriptive language when writing about what you’ve seen.

• Use action words that imply a quality or attribute of the movement (slithered, sauntered, bounded, careened instead of rolled, walked, leaped, or turned)
• Use vivid adjectives to describe qualities of the lighting, costuming, or other elements (cast cheerless shadows, donned gaudy colors and fabrics, carved intricate pathways)
• Generally, you’ll want to write in the present tense . What you see, hear, feel, and sense rather than what you saw, heard, felt, etc. There are cases that past tense might be appropriate but choreography or performance work is best described as something that continues to exist rather than something that has ended or passed. Whatever you choose, be aware and try not to mix tense within the same paragraph or even within the same paper.

Include your interpretation of how the work(s) develop, how they change in mood, how the themes or mood of the piece is expressed.

When offering your opinions of a specific element or how effectively the work is carried out, support these with specific examples from the work (be wary of attempting to support opinion with blanket statements of belief – “The dancer is astonishing. She is an amazing turner and moves better than anyone else on stage.” vs. “The dancer is astonishing. Her turns have a serpentine fluidity, making her a standout every time she takes the stage.”)

Your Conclusion

Sum up your overall experiences and thoughts about the performance or restate your thesis in more detail.

Relate what you’ve seen to your study or past experiences

Reading, Revising, and Polishing Your Work

• Read what you’ve written aloud to yourself or a friend. Is your meaning clear and does it read smoothly?
• Leave the paper and then go back to it , reading and making any necessary revisions. Cut or tighten redundant (repetitive) statements, phrases, or paragraphs.
• Check spelling (particularly on the spelling of names and titles within the production) and proper punctuation.
• Be sure the paper is formatted to your instructor’s specifications before handing it in.

Remember, your reactions, feelings, and opinions are neither right or wrong, however, how well you express these in your writing will determine your grade.

Composing an effective observation essay about a performance takes preparation and an openness to receiving the dance presented.

Your state of mind when viewing a work can affect your perceptions so, try to be rested when you watch a performance, clearing your head of to-do lists or other extraneous thoughts.

I hope you find this guide helpful for drafting your performance critique or simply an assistance as you view dance.

Have you written an Observation/Reaction paper or critique?

If so, what are some things new writers might avoid , if you are new to writing about performance, what are your questions.

Post them below!

If you are not writing about dance but have made it this far, there are other articles here you may find interesting or applicable to your studies, research, or career: College Days Ahead? Don’t Miss “College Parent Central” How to Conduct Oneself as a Professional – Part I How to Conduct Oneself as a Professional – Part II Strengths and Weaknesses Approaching Your Teacher or Studio Owner – useful tips for approaching anyone with an idea or suggestions

Nichelle Suzanne is a writer specializing in dance and online content. She is also a dance instructor with over 20 years experience teaching in dance studios, community programs, and colleges. She began Dance Advantage in 2008, equipped with a passion for movement education and an intuitive sense that a blog could bring dancers together. As a Houston-based dance writer, Nichelle covers dance performance for Dance Source Houston, Arts+Culture Texas, and other publications. She is a leader in social media within the dance community and has presented on blogging for dance organizations, including Dance/USA. Nichelle provides web consulting and writing services for dancers, dance schools and studios, and those beyond the dance world. Read Nichelle’s posts .

Before Footer

Who is nichelle.

About Dance Advantage

Enjoying Dance Advantage? Please spread the word.

• Skip to main content
• Skip to secondary menu
• Skip to primary sidebar
• Skip to footer

A Plus Topper

Improve your Grades

Dance Critique Essay | Essay About Dance Critique, Dance Concert Critique Essay

December 3, 2021 by Prasanna

Dance Critique Essay: In today’s busy life, people find ways to relieve stress. One of the ways is to observe and enjoy a dance performance. It can be a solo performance by some eminent artist or maybe a group performance by some troupe. There are persons who are quite knowledgeable about dance and critically review the performance to evaluate the quality of the dance and recommend it to the general public. They are the dance critiques who aim at evaluating the techniques, atmosphere, and aesthetics of dance. A dance critique must have the aptitude to watch, listen, and experience the performance with an open mind and involvement.

You can also find more  Essay Writing  articles on events, persons, sports, technology and many more.

Long Essay on Dance Critique

The Elements of Dance

Some basic elements that form the structure of dance performance and creative movement are body, action, space, time, and energy. A thorough understanding of this concept would help the dance critique to identify the core characteristics when reviewing a dance performance. The critique has to focus on the posture or body movement of the dancers that make the presentation elegant and graceful. The gestures made by hands and eye movements convey the feelings and connect well with the audience. Timing or rhythm is a very important aspect of dance to get the synchronized effect that emphasizes the subject. It is like a pattern that follows the mood of the dance.

The Process that a critique follows

The process of critical review of dance requires analysis of several elements and the dance critique must have the ability to explain or clarify the qualitative aspect of all these factors. The review by critique should include the following descriptions about the dance:

• Movement: The flexibility of body actions and gestures by the dancer
• Choreography: The structure of dance and position of dancers
• Space: The movement of dancers through the space
• Performance: The technical and expressive abilities of dancer
• Music: The effect of music to evoke an emotional response
• Staging: The costumes, lighting, and sets used to compliment the performance

A dance performance review by a critique includes some systematic steps as below to explain the performance with detailed analysis.

• Give a general description of the dance performance including the name of the performance, choreographer, the place of dance performance, and the dance style.
• Describe the overall atmosphere created by the performance and put emphasis on characteristics that attracted the most attention. Evaluate the costume, light, decorations, and musical arrangements.
• Discuss the style and choreography, and how it contributed to the overall performance.
• Evaluate the input of the dancers in terms of their techniques, level of skills, and how they synchronize with music and each other.
• Put your own views on the organization, performance, choreography, and other production elements.
• Summing up the opinion backed up by actual experiences and impact on the intended audience.

While reviewing a solo performance, the dance critique must look into the strength and mobility of a dancer to work with different parts of the body together. A good dancer must possess a highly developed skill to know and control the position and state of the body, weight, and balance in motion. The critique should be attentive to every single movement or phase of movements that reflect the style and intention to convey the theme of dance effectively to the audience.

The Outcome 

A dance critique must focus on assessing a performer’s capabilities as well as highlighting the shortcomings and weaknesses. The intention should be not to discourage but to help learn the art and work on areas of improvement for new performers and choreographers. The dance critique can guide the budding artists to formulate new ways for self-improvement and excel in the art form.

Short Essay on Dance Critique Essay

The Role of critique

Dance is not just a physical performance; it’s a representation of social, cultural, and historical outlook. Dancing is a crafted skill attained through dedication, discipline, motivation, determination, and focus. Dance performance critique must acquire a great deal of understanding about the art of dancing. Their honest review and detailed analysis help others to visualize the dance performance without being present there. It builds interest and responsiveness about this particular performance, its style, and its intention. The dance critique needs to have the ability to see the dance not only as a source of entertainment but also realize how it encompasses a great amount of emotion and passion. A good dance performance receives appreciation from the audience because the movements and gestures connect with them. A particular dance can touch the audience on not just a superficial level, but more on an internal level.

A review by dance critique must contain description, analysis, interpretation, and evaluation about the subject. A description includes the dance piece, whether it’s an individual or group performance, the settings, costume, and music. The analysis can be done on the choreographic process, costume, and background to establish the theme of the dance. Interpreting the dancer’s choreographic styles and the meaning of these conventions can be part of the interpretation process. The evaluation stage gives the overall opinion about the impact of the performance with special mention to individual skills as well as collaborative effort and coordination, as applicable.

A dance performance is the product of creativity, motivation, discipline, and perseverance. It demands physical fitness, stamina, and resilience from a dancer. So the dancer deserves any form of appreciation that improves his/her confidence and self-belief. A dance critique must keep this in mind while presenting his opinion and views.

FAQ’s on Dance Critique Essay

Question 1. What is the role of a dance critique?

Answer: The main role of a dance critique is to evaluate the quality of the dance on the basis of certain parameters and recommend it to the intended audience.

Question 2. What should be the responsibilities of a dance critique?

Answer: The dance critique must put forward his views with detailed analysis and supporting research and must ensure his opinions are not biased.

Question 3. How can dance critique help the performer in self-improvement?

Answer: A dance critique represents the view of the audience and expresses his expert opinions which help the dancer analyze his own performance and work towards improvement.

• Picture Dictionary
• English Speech
• English Slogans
• English Letter Writing
• English Essay Writing
• English Textbook Answers
• Types of Certificates
• ICSE Solutions
• Selina ICSE Solutions
• ML Aggarwal Solutions
• HSSLive Plus One
• HSSLive Plus Two
• Kerala SSLC
• Distance Education

Home — Essay Samples — Entertainment — Dance Performance Review — Analyzing a Dance Performance Through Critical Lens

Analyzing a Dance Performance Through Critical Lens

• Categories: Dance Performance Review

About this sample

Words: 611 |

Published: Sep 5, 2023

Words: 611 | Page: 1 | 4 min read

Table of contents

Choreography and composition, execution and technical proficiency, artistic expression and interpretation, impact on the audience.

Cite this Essay

Let us write you an essay from scratch

• 450+ experts on 30 subjects ready to help
• Custom essay delivered in as few as 3 hours

Get high-quality help

Dr Jacklynne

Verified writer

• Expert in: Entertainment

+ 120 experts online

By clicking “Check Writers’ Offers”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy . We’ll occasionally send you promo and account related email

No need to pay just yet!

Related Essays

8 pages / 3555 words

1 pages / 593 words

7 pages / 3039 words

1 pages / 578 words

Remember! This is just a sample.

You can get your custom paper by one of our expert writers.

121 writers online

Still can’t find what you need?

Browse our vast selection of original essay samples, each expertly formatted and styled

Related Essays on Dance Performance Review

The Asamba dance, a traditional form of expressive movement originating from the African continent, embodies a rich tapestry of cultural significance and historical depth. Unlike many Western forms of dance, which often [...]

Football Strike hack is a new free to play MMO Strategy game and the important reason stated for the popularity of this game right before its introduction is that it is from the makers of the Game of War: Fire Age game. As a [...]

Game Artists work around 35 hours a week but may need to work longer as deadlines approach. They work long periods in offices working at their computers or attending meetings. Video game artists create 2D art, such as concept [...]

Video games in their 60-year history have changed a lot. The first gaming machine was created in 1940, but the development of video games began in the early seventies with the first home console Odyssey and video game Pong in [...]

The games that adolescents and young people used to play in the play grounds and on the streets have been replaced in recent years with cyber games played in front of the computer on the internet or in game arcades. This [...]

Acting and lying are two rather different things with some remarkable similarities. Such as how both can hold a truth, whether hidden within the context, or sprinkled in amongst the words spoken. Along with how the technique [...]

Related Topics

By clicking “Send”, you agree to our Terms of service and Privacy statement . We will occasionally send you account related emails.

Where do you want us to send this sample?

By clicking “Continue”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy.

Be careful. This essay is not unique

This essay was donated by a student and is likely to have been used and submitted before

Download this Sample

Free samples may contain mistakes and not unique parts

Sorry, we could not paraphrase this essay. Our professional writers can rewrite it and get you a unique paper.

Please check your inbox.

We can write you a custom essay that will follow your exact instructions and meet the deadlines. Let's fix your grades together!

Get Your Personalized Essay in 3 Hours or Less!

We use cookies to personalyze your web-site experience. By continuing we’ll assume you board with our cookie policy .

• Instructions Followed To The Letter
• Deadlines Met At Every Stage
• Unique And Plagiarism Free

NCERT Books

Dance Critique Essay | Why Are Dance Critiques Important?, Factors to Consider a Dance Critique

Dance Critique Essay: Dance critiques are a way of documenting a dance performance through a spoken or a written review. It can also refer to the report or review itself. Usually, critiques can be submitted anonymously by the audience or by the dancers themselves. This essay will define the term critiques, introduce dance critique examples, and explain why they are important. The essay will also act as a guide to create a dance critique of your own.

Students can find more English  Essay Writing  Topics, Ideas, Easy Tips to Write Essay Writing and many more.

What are Dance Critiques?

Dance critiques are pieces of writing that document the art of dance through written or spoken word. They provide descriptions about the dancer’s movements, attire, choreography, etc. Dance critiques are also meant to communicate what feelings or emotions were experienced by the critic while watching the performance.

Why Are Dance Critiques Important?

Dance critiques are important because they allow audiences to be able to learn about different kinds of dances without having to physically attend a performance themselves. Dance critics provide written or verbal descriptions that detail what the dancer’s movements were.

How Do You Write A Dance Critique Example?

As already discussed, a dance critique is a type of evaluation of a dance and its performance. It can also be an evaluation of the dance instructor or the venue where the dance was performed. The critic will usually discuss what they liked and didn’t like about the performance, whether it met any expectations, and whether they would recommend that others see it. Following are a few steps to consider when writing a dance critique:

• Experience the performance with an open mind – One of the most exciting aspects of experiencing a dance performance is that it’s unpredictable. You never know what you’re going to see, hear, or experience. Every audience member has their own unique perspective on the performance and it’s important to watch, listen, and experience the performance with an open mind.
• Do a little research – Access to historical information about the choreographer and the other works by that choreographer can help to formulate a structure to your dance critique. Other important factors to consider when drafting the dance critique includes the dance itself, the dance company, the principal dancers, the composer and other influencing factors.
• Writing the critique – Analyze and begin writing the critique. Consider factors such as movement, choreography, space, performance, music, staging, overall reaction and personal response.

Factors to Consider when Drafting a Dance Critique

Following are certain factors to consider and their sample usage in a dance critique

What movements were observed in the dance performance?

“The choreography of this dance performance mainly consisted of rhythmic body movements and was observed to be quite fast-paced. It is worth noting that the dancers’ movements were in sync with one another and had a very fluid quality.”

What body actions did the dancers perform?

“The dancers performed the salsa dance. They were demonstrating a combination of Latin American and traditional ballroom dance moves.”

Which parts of the body were emphasized during the dance performance?

“The performance highlighted body parts that are often not shown in modern dance. The dancers’ bodies were expressive and sensual, creating a provocative experience for the audience.”

Was the dance performance sharp or sluggish? 

“The performance was sharp and crisp. The dancers moved with precision and grace. Watching them was a breathtaking experience that I will never forget.”

Was the dancer’s movement deliberate or explosive?

“The dancer’s movement was deliberate. The use of explosive gestures was limited to specific moments only. This can be seen in the first section of the dance, where he only used them during the release of tension, or when transitioning between different parts.”

What forms did the dancers’ bodies employ?

“The dancers’ bodies were splayed across the floor, some in contorted positions while others were lying on their backs or curled into the fetal position.”

What kind of structure does the dance employ?

“The structure of the dance was very well put together, following the ABA choreographic structure. Moreover, the dancers all seemed very talented and it seemed like they were having a lot of fun.”

How did the dancers relate to each other? 

“All dancers have a different perspective of the dance as they all experience it differently. The dancers never agree as to what is going on, so they have to come together and decide on a plan of action.”

How were the dancers grouped? 

“Dances are often performed in groups. Dancers are usually not alone or in pairs, but instead are in groups.”

What kind of movements were observed in the dance performance? 

“The dance performance has a very fluid and rhythmic movement. There are many fast movements but there are also moments of stillness.”

Was the dance a narrative?

“Not all dances tell a story, but some do. A narrative dance is a type of creative dance that uses choreography to tell a story or convey a sequence of events through movement and gesture.”

Was the dance abstract?

Abstract art is difficult to understand; it does not have a concrete idea or story that can be communicated visually. The term abstract refers to anything that does not represent an object, feeling, or recognizable form.

Did the dance have a clear beginning, middle, and end?

Generally, a dance will have a beginning, a middle, and an end. The dance begins with the introduction of the dancers and the “call” for all to come out on stage. The middle of the dance is usually where most of the dancing takes place with a clear beginning and end.

Movement of dancers through space

“This dance performance was designed to explore the experience of moving in space. The dancers moved in an almost choreographed manner, with their movements often mirroring each other.”

What were the technical and expressive abilities of the dancers?

“The performance showcased technical and expressive abilities of the dancers in a variety of ways. One notable instance had the dancers depending on each other for balancing.”

What made a particular performer stand out? 

“The performer that stood out the most for me was Natalie Portman. She was incredible! Her moves were so distinctive and graceful. I love her expressions too – they were very communicative and brought out subtle emotions”

Were the dancers focused and energetic?

“The dancers in the performance were focused and energetic. They were able to listen to the music and follow it smoothly. The dancers displayed a great deal of skill by doing complicated moves with ease.”

Common Mistakes When Writing A Dance Critique Example

You can avoid common mistakes when writing a critique by following these simple guidelines:

• Make sure your critique is complete – A critique is a critical evaluation of somebody’s work. They are often written by experts who have the knowledge to judge somebody else’s work. When somebody asks for your opinion on their work, it is considered polite to provide feedback that will help the individual grow and learn from their mistakes.
•  Avoid personal bias as much as possible – Personal bias can be detrimental to your writing. For example, if you are writing about a topic that you have strong feelings for, it can lead to biased arguments and biased facts. It is important to be fair and objective when presenting facts in order for the reader to feel confident in your arguments and conclusions.
• Be as concise as possible – Writing concisely will make your critique more readable and more likely to be shared. Shorter sentences and paragraphs allow readers to comprehend the information quickly and easily. Concise writing also leaves less room for misinterpretations and inaccuracies, and allows readers to spend more time reading about the content rather than reading the verbose introduction.
• Be respectful – Critiquing a performance is a delicate art. Furthermore, constructive criticism is not personal, but rather an opportunity for improvement. If you are reviewing someone’s performance, keep in mind that there may be something about it they may be proud of even if you find faults in it.

Dance critiques are a constructive response to a dance performance with a purpose of providing feedback to the dancer. The critique is a structured conversation with a dancer about his or her performance with the goal of providing feedback on the way they danced. Moreover, dance critics are able to see dance through a different lens. They can critique the performance, the choreography, the costumes, and more. For example, they can focus on whether or not dancers are in sync with one another or if there was anything that didn’t seem to make sense. This is an important role because it helps to shape future performances and often leads choreographers to change their work.

FAQ’s on Dance Critiques

Question 1. What are Dance Critiques?

Answer: Dance critiques are a form of feedback given to dancers after they perform. Dance critiques can be positive or negative, and are often used to help dancers grow and develop their performance skills.

Question 2. Why Are Dance Critiques Important?

Answer: Dance critiques are important to help dancers, choreographers, and dance teachers understand what they are doing right and what they are doing wrong. Dance critiques can also help dancers understand the meaning of their performance. Most importantly, dance critiques should be constructive, not destructive.

Question 3. How do you write a dance critique?

Answer: A dance critique is a form of review which evaluates the performance of a dancer. A dance critique can be written in response to an individual performance, or as part of a wider discussion on technique or style within the field. The critique should cover the following areas: performance date, location of the performance, choreographer, dancers, program, music, costumes, lighting, sets, personal opinion of the reviewer and also the audience.

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Writing movement: why dance criticism matters

Senior Lecturer, Dance, Deakin University

Disclosure statement

Sally Gardner has received numerous Australia Council grants for travel, dance creation and production. She is co-editor of the occasional publication Writings on Dance, which has been supported by Arts Victoria and the Australia Council.

Deakin University provides funding as a member of The Conversation AU.

View all partners

Internationally, dance criticism has an illustrious literary past. Writers such as Paul Valery , TS Eliot, and Edwin Denby, amongst others, have all written on dance performance.

Denby, a poet and acclaimed dance critic for The New York Herald Tribune in the early 1940s, influenced Deborah Jowitt’s decision to embark on a career in dance criticism as far back as the early 1950s. Jowitt is particularly renowned and revered for her long service as dance critic for the New York Village Voice , starting in 1967.

At The Voice, like Arlene Croce at The New Yorker , Jowitt was allocated an amount of space for her reviews undreamt of in any Australian newspaper. There, she was able to develop a sensibility for dance, educated by the work she saw, and to refine her criticism as a distinct form of literature.

Jowitt is in Australia this week as an invited contributor to the wider program surrounding the second Keir choreographic awards (the first having taken place in 2014). The finals of the award will be judged at Carriageworks in Sydney this week.

Jowitt was, and remains, committed to writing about the dance aspect of dance performance: how it communicates through the materials of movement, the nuances of style, and the way these are handled by the performers. In her review At home in the body (1977) Jowitt wrote of a performance by the widely influential dancer Simone Forti that it felt as though you had,

all the time in the world…Once, she took her right hand off the floor, and, as if her weight had been equally distributed between four points, acknowledged the sudden imbalance by toppling over. You could say that not much happened; or you could say that within a few concrete actions, everything happened.

There is no ready-made language for describing the effects on a viewer of dancing itself – whatever the style of that dancing. Even well known dance critics internationally, such as Cyril Beaumont, who wrote for The Sunday Times, regularly failed to say anything much about the dancing in their reviews, concentrating instead on other aspects of the production.

The so-called “descriptive” approach developed by Jowitt has influenced later generations of critics to describe what it was like to be there – as a witness to the qualities and effects of a dance’s dancing.

Jowitt’s distinctive style also encoded an ethic of reviewing that was generous, intimate, avowedly subjective, and “not in the business of rating and ranking”. This didn’t mean that she was never critical: rather she was incisive.

Her reviews stand as important documents for the archive of dance history: Jowitt was there at the first revivals of Martha Graham ’s early 20th century works; she became interested in writing at the same time Merce Cunningham was founding his company.

She has witnessed the development of the oeuvres of several generations of American choreographic artists and dancers and has become familiar with countless works through multiple viewings and casts over decades – something that any music critic, for example, would take for granted but which is rare in dance.

Dance performances are too often seen as a series of “one-offs”, without knowledge of their relation to a whole historical field of works and processes. A dedicated and informed reviewer can help an audience to both remember what a work was like, in its sensuous particularity, and to place the performance they have seen within a context of other works.

The reviewer can convey something of the work’s lineage. Most fundamentally, perhaps, an informed review is an indication that the work should be taken seriously.

As Richard Watts pointed out recently in ArtsHub , substantial reviewing is crucial to the development of a discerning public, which in turn supports the artform.

The Australian print media has largely failed to recognise this. All the more should we acknowledge the efforts of some long-standing and former dance reviewers around the country, including Jill Sykes and Mary Emery in Sydney, particularly at a time when Melbourne dancers were suffering the reviews of The Age’s Neil Jillet.

In an optimistic turn, online forums and the Australia Council funded Realtime are now providing a much needed opening for writers on the arts to develop their reviewing approaches and languages.

Jowitt’s visit for the Keir program will include her conducting a week-long dance writing seminar at Melbourne’s Dancehouse. We may see a much needed revitalisation of the dance critic’s craft.

• Choreographer

Senior Research Fellow - Curtin Institute for Energy Transition (CIET)

Research Grants Officer

Laboratory Head - RNA Biology

Head of School, School of Arts & Social Sciences, Monash University Malaysia

Chief Operating Officer (COO)